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The Museum of Valence is situated in the historic centre of old Valence...

The Museum of Valence is situated in the historic centre of old Valence adjoining the Cathedral of Saint Apollinaire, on the city's first terrace. It offers wide panoramic views of the Valence countryside, from Vercors to the mountains of Ardeche.

Officially created in 1850, it has been housed since 1911 in the former Episcopal palace, a vast private mansion with a courtyard and private gardens, which retains many traces of its secular history: a 12th-century fortified Episcopal tower, an ogival gallery, 15th- and 17th-century painted ceilings, and more.

Its rich collections of more than 20,000 works offer, in a reinvented itinerary, a wide panorama of the history of mankind and the arts, from regional prehistory to contemporary art.

The Archaeology section retraces the history of civilisations occupying Drome and the mid-Rhone valley from modern times back to prehistory.

The art section, which brings together paintings, drawings, sculpture, and decorative arts, places a special emphasis on the theme of landscape, from its reinterpretation by contemporary artists back to its "invention" in the 16th century as an independent genre.

What is maybe the most striking of this museum is the architecture of the building: it is an amazing combination of old and new in perfect harmony with each other. The viewpoints on the terraces are amazing.
In the collection there are some highlights also. I was particularly impressed by the Roman mosaics coming from the Villa des Mingauds.
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For a provincial museum they have a very interesting collection. Very informative display on neanderthal and bronze age civilisations in the area, as well as some good Roman and later mosaics and a few good pictures.
great view of the Rhone from the top looking stunning in late October with the leaves turning

If you have an open afternoon on a hot day, or on a cold rainy day, visit the museum in Valence. In the center of the city this completely redone museum is very much worth a visit, and for a very small price!
Their acherology collection is beautiful and interesting. Unfortunately not all the information signs are bilingual, for those...
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The exhibits are imaginatively and interestingly laid out - BUT - it's the space! Completely remodelled and only recently reopened in 2014, The architectural experience alone is worth the visit - hard to fully appreciate from the outside, so go inside (there's a courtyard, garden and roof terrace).....

We recently stayed at the Motel du Rhone in Valence. On arrival in Valance in the early afternoon we decided to check in first before having a look around the city. We were both pleasantly surprised at how nice the motel was but it did not have any proper view of the river as it was built – end onto...
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It is an interesting building recently completely refurbished and the combination of old and new was quite lovely. The content was not hugely sustaining so I think it would be best to visit when there's a good exhibition such as the one coming up this summer.

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